What the FAQ? : How Do I Rewire a Nelson Bubble Lamp?

Did you get your hands on an ever-so sought after Nelson Bubble Lamp? Nice choice! These massively popular lamps are a great Mid Century Modern Design addition to your home, and upgrading the original components with Color Cord Company DIY Lamp Parts offers a fresh addition to a vintage look.
You'll need these DIY Lamp parts to revamp your Nelson Bubble:
DIY Cloth Covered Wire
Porcelain Socket
Male Metal Barrel Cord Grip
Ceiling Canopy
Reducer Coupler
Nut
Washer
1/8 IPS All Thread Nipple
1/4 IPS All Thread Nipple
Socket Cover (optional)
Color Cord 3000 (optional)
STEP 1: Cut and strip your cloth covered wire using your Color Cord 3000 or other wire stripping tool.
STEP 2: Thread the 1/8 and 1/4 IPS nipples onto the porcelain socket cap and tighten down the set screw. Slide the socket top and insulation on to the cloth cord with the bottom facing the exposed ends.
STEP 3: Wire your porcelain socket by loosening the terminal screws and hooking the conductor wires underneath and tightening back down. The black positive wire goes to the gold screw, the white negative to the silver and green ground to the green screw. Slide the socket cap down to the body, turn the socket over and locate the two screw holes on the inside and insert the screws. Tighten down the cap to the body.
STEP 4: Feed the other end of the cloth cord through the shade and get the top of the porcelain socket to sit flush with the top of the shade. Then, feed the nut and washer over the cord and onto the all thread nipple at the top of the socket. Tighten down with a wrench.
STEP 5: Cut and strip the other end of your cloth covered wire. Thread the reducer coupler and male barrel cord grip together and slide it over the cord with the cord grip facing the exposed conductor wires. Screw the reducer coupler onto the all thread nipple and tighten down the cord grip set screw.
STEP 6: The last step is to feed the stripped end of your cloth covered wire through the canopy cord grip and tighten down the set screw once you've determined your cord length.
YOU DID IT! Now it's time to install your Nelson Bubble pendant!
Your Nelson Bubble ceiling pendant can be installed in 5 easy steps:
STEP 1: TURN OFF Light Switch and Breaker! The last thing you need is to get zapped by the conductor wires coming from an active junction box. So long as you start with step, this entire process shouldn't cause pain (we hope)!
STEP 2: Attach the canopy mounting plate to your junction box using the provided screws.
*PLEASE NOTE* Once you've determined your pendant length, we recommend tying an overhand knot inside the canopy for extra security.
STEP 3: Twist together the corresponding conductor wires from the fixture to the junction box wires. Black to Black Positive, White to White Negative and Green Ground to Bare Copper Ground. More often than not, the ground wire in your junction box will be a bare copper. Secure each of these using wire nuts, then wrap them with electrical tape to prevent them from moving/slipping.
STEP 4: Push all wires up in to junction box and secure your ceiling canopy to the mounting plate with the provided canopy screws.
STEP 5: This is our favorite step by far! Add light bulbs, flip your breaker and light switch back on, and enjoy!
You will also need to track down the following tools to complete this installation:
Phillips and Flat Head Screw Drivers
Masking Tape
Wrench/Pliers
Wire Stripper
It really is that easy! Let us know if you have any questions regarding the parts you'll need for this project. Be sure to tag us in your photos of your Nelson Bubble Lamp revamp!
www.colorcord.com/blogs/light...
www.colorcord.com/

[@woolyninja]

This was great, and somehow the only tutorial I could find on the internet to do anything like this! I had gotten a dud light bulb I got from Amazon stuck in my original bubble light and was able to use this tutorial to fix it. My only suggestion would be to link to the exact item, color and size of every item on the website. I ordered Zinc versions of a couple connectors and they didn't have the same threads, etc. But thank you so much for this!

[@kirstynkonig]

Wondering the same thing as some of the other comments. How do you remove the cable out of the original bulb socket, to replace the cord? Would love to see a video on how to do that.

[@christophgelfand2395]

I wanted to say this is a great tutorial but it presumes (without showing how) that you can remove the existing cord hardware from the pendant. In my experience this piece seems to be glued together making the installation as pictured here impossible. However, I’d love to hear how it’s done if someone has succeeded.

[@colorcord]

Hello, Thank you for watching! So in this particular shade's case the metal bracket that supports the socket is glued to the shade material itself, but the socket on this one was removed with a wrench. Feel free to send us photos at [e-mail] and we can see how we can help!

[@frokeedokee]

having the same issue unfortunately... emailed HermanMiller to see if they have any guidance on how to remove the original wiring and bulb socket

[@jilliankay9657]

Any update here. I’m trying to do the same thing

[@mmmatt1190]

Great tutorial! Which color of cord is this? Off white?

[@colorcord]

Hi Matt, We're glad you enjoyed it! I do believe that is our Cotton Blend in White, which has an off white look to it. You can find it here: www.colorcord.com/products/diy-fabric-wire-by-the-foot-white-cotton-blend?variant=12363341135974 Thanks for watching!

[@youngien]

do you know how to detach the metal ring that's attached to the shade?

[@colorcord]

Hi David, Thanks for watching! Unfortunately we no longer have possession of this Bubble Lamp, but from what we can remember it seems it was manufactured that way and it didn't really seem like there was an option to properly detach it from the shade. Feel free to reach out to [e-mail] if you have further questions!

[@doreneloew8269]

Do you know if you can use a j adapter so you can hang a bubble pendant from a j track?

[@colorcord]

Hi Dorene, Thanks for watching! Yes, as long as you can properly suspend the socket pendant from the shade you should be able to hang it from a j track. Feel free to reach out to [e-mail] for any further questions or concerns!

[@alanstoss]

Hello, I'm looking for that stainless steel base plate that went to your garage can. That's the original style. Where can I get one of those? Would you have any?

[@colorcord]

Hi Alan, Thanks for watching! Unfortunately we do not carry original Nelson Bubble parts, but of course you can rewire on using our Color Cord DIY Lamp Parts! Here's what you'll need: DIY Cloth Covered Wire: www.colorcord.com/collections/diy-wire Porcelain Socket: www.colorcord.com/products/grounded-porcelain-socket?variant=12363316723814 Male Metal Barrel Cord Grip: www.colorcord.com/products/metal-barrel-cord-grip?variant=12363345461350 Single Port Ceiling Canopy: www.colorcord.com/products/single-port-ceiling-canopy?variant=12363325309030 Reducer Coupler: www.colorcord.com/products/reducer-coupler?variant=16246014148710 Nut: www.colorcord.com/products/nut?variant=16295054606438 Washer: www.colorcord.com/products/lock-washer?variant=16294979371110 1/8 IPS All Thread Nipple: www.colorcord.com/products/1-8-ips-all-thread-nipple?variant=39290359611494 1/4 IPS All Thread Nipple: www.colorcord.com/products/1-4-ips-all-thread-nipple-1-2-long?variant=16294220824678 Color Cord 3000 (optional): www.colorcord.com/products/color-cord-3000-wire-stripping-tool?variant=12363339071590 Feel free to reach out to [e-mail] if you have any further questions or concerns!

[@jenbarclay4679]

Hi! I’m trying to take off my GN bubble shade to clean it and can’t figure it out for the life of me! Do i have to remove the socket from the cord?? Thank you 😗💋

[@colorcord]

Hi Jen, Yes, you might have to remove the socket or the wiring from the ceiling canopy. It's hard to say without seeing photos of your specific fixture. Feel free to email photos [e-mail] and one of our customer happiness team members will be able to assist you! Thanks for watching!

[@jenbarclay4679]

@@colorcord you’re amazing, thank you!

[@herschoolcolors]

What is the easiest way to convert a Nelson lamp to a wall plug-in? Do you sell a kit for this?

[@colorcord]

Hi there- good question, the instructions would be exactly the same except you would use a Power Cord Whip and thread the components that go above the shade (washer and nut) along with the shade before you wire the socket. You can find our power whips here: www.colorcord.com/collections/power-cord-whips As always, if you have questions feel free to use our live chat or call 1.800.409.1070 on our website during office hours or shoot us an email at [e-mail]. Thanks!

[@farisofwall]

What kind of cord switch can I use?

[@colorcord]

Hi! If you wanted to make this fixture a plug-in fixture, you can install our Thumb Switch on the cord. You can order this product on our website here: www.colorcord.com/products/cord-thumb-switch?variant=12458049896550 And here's a How To Tutorial on how to wire the thumb switch: www.colorcord.com/blogs/lighting-design-blog/how-to-wire-a-thumb-switch?_pos=1&_sid=95e45cadd&_ss=r Thanks for watching!

[@paperdogstudios6342]

any idea how to clean these lamps? Have several of them and the dust is embedded in them. ;(

[@colorcord]

Hello! Thanks for watching! According to hermanmiller.com you can: "Use a feather duster, a clean soft white cloth, or vacuum with a clean soft brush attachment as needed. For stubborn stains, clean the surface using a clean soft white absorbent cloth with a solution of mild soap and warm water. Wipe down surfaces with the damp cloth and dry with a clean soft white cloth." So, if it seems to be pretty embedded, it looks like using a damp cloth would be where to start. Feel free to reach out to [e-mail] if you have any further questions or concerns!

[@clothestravel]

Are these able to be swagged? My connection socket in the ceiling is not directly over my dining room table, so I'd have to run the cord over about a foot to center the pendant above my dining room table.

[@colorcord]

Hi there, Thanks for watching. Of course, we offer several swag hook options on our website. They are easy to install and look great. Check them out here: www.colorcord.com/collections/swag-hooks